Colorado Karlen Christmas

It's after Christmas and we're not hosting at our home in Louisville, but I still feel that we are hosting the Karlen family here in Silverthorne, Colorado for a Colorado Karlen Christmas. It really means a lot that all the Karlen family traveled to Colorado for our Christmas gathering this year. It's not easy to travel with young ones and having them all here is special.  A few highlights from a first full day here.

sledding!

sister time!

couple time

hot tubbing!

Checking out the Keystone ski village at night

fireworks over the ski hill

the Geisert girls!

1/2 of the Marshall family

Enjoying the big chair

Christmas Magic

Every year, I think that Christmas can't get more magical than the previous year. I've finally learned that Christmas is magical for a different reason every season. From T-man saying, "I bet Santa is making a lot of iPads right now" to D-man basically only asking for books for Christmas. To T-man giving D-man the extension cord he wanted to D-man taking apart one of his Lego sets and giving it to T-man. Having my parents here to see how we celebrate the Peavy Christmas was really magical as well.

Christmas Eve included the hustle and bustle of shopping for gifts and food, cooking chowder, and heading out to an Episcopal Church I have been wanting to see for 5:00 service (and really enjoying singing with my Mom during the service). We opened a few presents after fish chowder and enjoyed rose champagne that Marshall gave me for Christmas. 

Christmas Day started at 5:30 for D-man (part of his Christmas magic) and started for the rest of us around 8:30.  We enjoyed coffee, cinnamon rolls, and egg casserole while we watched the magic unfold. And like every year, the magic is over too quickly.  The day wrapped up watching "A Christmas Story" and enjoying ribeye roast for Christmas dinner by candlelight. 

Christmas magic

Christmas Eve dinner

just a little bit excited to open presents

The only one of us in front of the tree on this camera. Will post the one with Marshall once we download it!

Christmas morning

Santa brought the iPad!

Jumping for Joy

One should always throw a birthday party three days before Christmas during a Bronco game so the birthday boy and his buddies can practically have all of Jump City to themselves.


We hosted the boys for pizza at our house and then trekked to Jump City for some trampoline and foam pit action. We were a bit worried that T-man wouldn't have many attendees because of the holidays, but we were fortunate to have 5 neighborhood boys (and an older brother attend so D-man had a friend along - and as T-man told him - "so you don't bug me"). It was fun to shop for party bags with T-man and decorate the house with the boys.

So special to see T-man having a good time with his friends to celebrate being 7. Happy Birthday T-man!

silly 1st grade boys

taking full advantage of the basement arsenal

Our sweet birthday boy

 

enjoying the trampolines

Christmas Reminiscing

In 1999, Marshall and I celebrated our first Christmas together at an Italian restaurant at a strip mall near our old Denver home.   It was also when he asked if we had been dating long enough for him to use a coupon (no wonder we ended up married!). 

Tonight we took advantage of the local Girl Scout troop babysitting services at the new Crossfit/Jump Rope facility in downtown Louisville for a date night (where the kids didn't want to go but had a blast). We then enjoyed a really nice Italian dinner in a strip mall by our home in Louisville with cocktails, vino, after dinner drinks, and.....a coupon! 

Some things are meant to be. 

Red Christmas cocktails  

An after dinner drink in downtown Louisville 

Raccoon #1

Try outs for Peter Pan - the middle school musical - were this week. D-man worked VERY hard on his audition (which was great fun for me!) and was the only 3/4 grade boy to try out. 

The music teacher pulled him aside after the audition and asked him to come back for callbacks with the older kids because he sang so well! I am so proud of him for having the courage to go to callbacks with all the older kids and not even be concerned he is the only boy in his age group. 

While he didn't get the part of John, he does have a part with a speaking line. While he was estastic to just make the play on Tuesday; he was a bit disappointed today - a good teaching moment about risks and disappointments. Pretty darn proud of this kid! And of course, happy he is interested in music! 

Oral Interpretation

T-man performed at school today as part of the Oral Interpretation and Holiday Tea. His poem was titled, "Sleeping Bag."  After the readings, we were able to enjoy cookies and hot cider together. While T-man said he was nervous, he did a great job. A special way for us to wrap up the 2013 school year. Here's a video of him doing his poem.

Reading his poem

with his teacher

Spreading Christmas Cheer!

For the past few years, Return Path has partnered with an organization to donate Christmas gifts to families in need (the shopping trip was a great lesson in "wants" vs. "needs" as we shopped for shoes and clothes listed on the wish list). The boys and I purchased gifts a few weeks ago and today T-man and I helped hand out the gifts. 

He was not excited to go, but he quickly warmed up when he saw Santa (although he was a bit creepy) and also saw all the toys. He was a great helper with bringing the toys to the front and also was able to go "shopping" for an older boy (which meant putting together a bag of toys that would appeal to that child). He did such a great job gathering toys (he even included a book) - all on his own. 

I was glad he got in the spirit and while he looked through the toys and pointed out things he liked, he never once asked for anything. Made me very proud. 

Celebrating 7 with Sushi

December 12th was a busy day, but T-man was able to celebrate with classmates (cupcakes), at the after school program (candy canes), and with his basketball team (cookies).

After basketball, Marshall and I were able to take T-man out for sushi (his choice) alone (as D-man had bb practice). 

We enjoyed opening gifts, "special drinks" and just the alone time with the birthday boy. He was so full that he passed on the free dessert, but was very excited that they give him a "free drink" to take home instead. 

Happy birthday T-man. We can't imagine life without you. 

Cookie Party!

Cookie decorating with toppings galore. Adult beverages. Good conversation. Christmas music dance party. Happy holidays. 

Bowl Bound

For the first time in a long time, the Peavy household has two teams that are bowl bound. We were pleasantly surprised that the Cougs made a bowl. D-man was adamant about wearing his new Coug shirt as one of his friends at school is a huge CSU fan (the Cougs bowl opponent). 

GO COUGS! 

Holiday Open House

We attended a holiday party last night in a neighboring neighborhood. It was fun to get dressed up, sip basil pomegranate martinis, and socialize without kids around. And a bonus - we tried a new sitter who did all the dishes AND cleaned up the basement!

This is the 4th "official" party we have been to in the last year (that doesn't count the impromptu street or pool gatherings). That's more than we were invited to in the entire nine years we were living on Amherst. And I chuckle to think that the last party we went to in our old neighborhood had us talking with ex-cons and leaving the party saying that we have to move. Man, I'm so glad we did.

Basketball Boys

We're a little more than half way through the basketball season. It's proving to be a good lesson for our older son in losing. T-man and all the neighborhood boys are really having fun this season and as T-man stated about the game this week, "we scored a lot of points." Really proud of T-man's hustle this weekend. 

Louisville Parade of Lights

We braved the 0 degree weather (thanks to all our ski clothes) to participate in our 2nd Louisville Parade of Lights. T-man and I marched with the Monarch K8 school and I had the privilege of dressing as Monty the Mustang. We stepped up our game this year and have bigger plans for next year. 

D-man rode on the his football team's float. He saw the Pirate float last year and with mouth agape, stated he wanted to play for "that team." And he definitely did. 

It was a quick parade with not many attendees, but we still had a great time walking down Main Street and taking in the holiday spirit.  

D-man and the Pirate float 

T-man held the banner and I sported the mustang costume. Go Mustangs! 

Me and Tanner at the parade - br!

Countdown to Christmas

For Christmas, Marshall's Mom gave the boys an online advent calendar. The app is tied to your computer's clock so you can't open any days in the future. Every day this week, the boys have asked about the calendar right after we get home. It's been great fun to see what the next day will bring and build even more anticipation for the Christmas holiday.  Thanks for the great gift Claudia! 

 

Christmas Spirit

The snow is falling. The tree is up with help from both boys which was very special. We shopped for two less fortunate children. We discussed how fortunate we are.  

Thankful

For loyalty even in defeat

For wonderful meals and cooks 

For talented family members and gorgeous weather 

For hikes with family and beautiful vistas 

For the power of family 

For the simple pleasure of throwing rocks into the stream 

For gift giving and getting in the spirit of the holidays - outdoor holiday lights included 

For the magic